General Forensics Blogs

If you want a basic overview of forensics, these blogs can give you a great look at what the world is like when you are a forensic science technician.

1. Forensic Crime Scene: Learn about different aspects of a crime scene, and how you can use forensics to solve a crime.
2. Zeno’s month: Get inside information on the life of a forensic scientist.
3. Forensic Talk: An interesting look at the issues facing those working forensics.
4. All About Forensic Science: An overview of different techniques of interest related to forensics.
5. Forensic Science: The writers at Suite 101 offer helpful insights into forensics.
6. Forensics Wiki: A helpful resource for all things related to forensic science.
7. Forensic News Blog: Learn about the latest news and information in the world of forensics — and how the media presents the science.

Physiology and Anatomy Blogs

A basic understanding of how the human body works can go a long way for a forensic technician, since you might be dealing with answering questions that require some knowledge.

8. Morbid Anatomy: Get a good idea of human anatomy and morbidity. Also includes interesting art related to the subject of death.
9. Human Physiology Mcqs Postgraduate Entrance preparation: Learn about different aspects of human physiology in a way that can help your forensic ability.
10. Medical Eponyms with Explanations: Get an overview of different names you might run into.
11. davidrothman.net: Helpful information about medicine and anatomy.
12. Anatomy and Physiology Blog: This offering from Sacramento State can bring insight into the human body.

Toxicology and Pathology Blogs

You hear about “toxicology reports” quite a bit in forensic science. You may also need to understand pathology. These blogs can help you learn more about how that all works.

13. Accelrys: Explores a number of issues in science research, including toxicology.
14. Digital Pathology Blog: Learn about digital pathology, including tissue pathology.
15. Neuropathology Blog: Learn about the pathology of diseases affecting the neurological system.
16. pathtalk.org: Look at different cases, and learn things that can help you as a forensic science technician.

DNA/Genetics Blogs

Genetic testing and DNA evidence are increasingly important parts of crime investigation, and these blogs can give you a good idea of how it all works.

17. Plain Error: A look at DNA evidence and testing.
18. it is NOT junk: A DNA blog focused genomes, evolution and issues related to the study of our make-up.
19. Think Gene: Keep up with what is happening in the world of genetics.
20. DNA Blog: Get information about DNA and genetic testing from CyGene Direct.
21. Eye on DNA: A look at how DNA is being used in science and technology.

Ballistics and Guns Blogs

Learn about how guns work, and learn how this knowledge can be used to aid your work as a forensic science technician.

22. Ballistic Simulator: Provides helpful examples of how you can use a ballistic simulator to figure out what happens when a gun is shot.
23. Battlefront.com: An interesting weapons ballistics blog.
24. Online Guns Blog: A look at guns, and different aspects of them.
25. Dustin’s Gun Blog: Learn about guns, how they work and different characteristics of different guns.
26. The Firearm Blog: A helpful look at the different properties and aspects of firearms.

X-ray Blogs

It helps to understand how x-rays work, and how to read them, since you might use them in your work.

27. X Ray Technician Blog: Learn a little bit about radiology and x-rays.
28. OptoIQ: News and information about using x-rays and other aspects of optics to solve a number of mysteries.
29. rt-image.com: Interesting posts and articles on imaging and the latest news in radiology.
30. Medical Imaging Talk: Get the latest news in medical imaging and learn useful information for forensic science.

Criminal Justice Blogs

Learn the ins and outs of the criminal justice system.

31. Expert Witness Blog: Many forensic scientists and technicians are used as expert witnesses. Learn what it takes to do this well.
32. Total Criminal Defense: A look at the basics of criminal defense and what goes into it.
33. Criminal Justice Online: Interesting cases, and insight into the way evidence gathering works, and how evidence is used in the criminal justice system.
34. Criminal Justice USA: Insight into improving your career as a criminal justice professional.
35. Dorf on Law: Learn about the legal system from a Cornell professor.

Law Enforcement Blogs

You will have to work closely with cops, so learn about their point of view so that you understand how you can help.

36. Mr. Police Man: Learn about what it’s like to be out there on the front lines.
37. The Chief’s Corner: Police life from the perspective of a police chief.
38. The Plastic Fuzz: An interesting blog about life as a police officer. Also serves as a support community. You will need permission to read this blog.
39. The Johnny Law Chronicles: A real world look at the life of a police officer.
40. Police Inspector Blog: A cool police blog with a U.K. twist.

Crime Psychology Blogs

Learning how the criminal mind works can help you become a better forensic science technician.

41. Deception Blog: This blog is all about the psychology of deception when it comes to crime.
42. In the news by Karen Franklin PhD: This is an interesting blog about crime psychology by a former forensic psychologist.
43. Sociology and Criminology at Keele University: Study criminology and how it relates to society.
44. Centre of Criminology Library Blog: Insight into what is happening in the minds of criminals.

Specialized Forensic Blogs

From computer forensics to forensic accounting to forensic anthropology, there are some different specialized fields related to forensics.

45. Forensic Astrology: That’s right. Some people use the skies to solve forensic mysteries.
46. Forensic Photoshop: Helpful tips and tutorials on using Photoshop with your forensics career.
47. Computer Forensics: Learn about the lives of a team of computer forensic scientists.
48. Computer Forensic Blog: Get the latest happenings in computer forensics.
49. Forensic Medicine Resources: Information and resources related to forensic medicine.
50. Afarensis: A look at forensic anthropology and some of the news issues associated with the science.

Forensics Fields

There are a number of different aspects of forensics, with different fields and opportunities. These courses can give you an idea of general forensics, as well as help you understand the different divisions of forensics.

1. Forensic Biology and Impression Evidence: This course from Kaplan University provides a helpful look at biology issues involved in forensics, as well as impression evidence. There is also a unit on computer forensics.
2. Forensic Engineering: The Open University offers a course in engineering and how forensics can help engineers identify structural defects and other quality issues in large structures.
3. Forensic DNA: An interesting collection of information, training modules and more on forensic DNA from a Boise State University professor.
4. Forensic Accounting: Resources and information on forensic accounting, along with activity ideas and suggested reading.
5. A National Protocol fro Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examinations: This is from American University and provides helpful information on forensic examinations in the cases of sexual assault.
6. Cryptography and Cryptanalysis: Often, forensics involves cracking codes. This class from MIT can help learn more about cryptography and how to analyze codes and find patterns.

The Human Body

Forensics requires a knowledge of the human body. It is important to have a basic understanding of how the body works, what is normal, and what effects different scenarios might have on the body. This is extremely helpful in terms of understanding what you are seeing at a crime scene. The following open courseware classes on the human body can be quite helpful.

7. Anatomy and Physiology: This course from Western Governor’s University provides a helpful look at different parts of the human anatomy and how the human physiology works.
8. Biology (Human Anatomy): This course from the University of California Berkeley is a general look at the human body, how it is set up, and how it functions.
9. Clinical Psychology: This course is another from the University of California Berkeley, and can help you better understand some of the issues related to how the brain functions in terms of mental state. This can help you evaluate evidence with a psychological point of view.
10. The Human Body: Harvard offers an excellent course on the human body, its systems and how they work. Includes helpful visuals and even makes use of flashcards.
11. Modern Biology: Carnegie Mellon University offers a great look at biology and molecular biology and human functioning through its Open Learning Initiative.
12. Principles of Human Disease: This MIT course can help you learn about how disease works in the body, and help you as you ascertain cause of death and look for clues about how someone was injured.

Crime

Understanding crime, and having a background in why crimes are committed can be a big help to a forensic scientist. These open courseware courses can help you learn more about different types of crime, and the motivations behind them.

13. Crime, Heredity and Insanity in American History: This course from Notre Dame provides an interesting look at crime in a historical context, as well as looking at different ways crimes have been solved throughout the years, and the roles of forensics.
14. Criminology: Harvard University provides a number of useful links, course materials, lectures and news related to forensic science and criminology.
15. Cybercime: This is another Harvard open courseware offering. The Cybercrime course focuses on crimes related to the Internet, and shares helpful and insightful case studies.
16. The meaning of crime: This is an interesting look at the causes and motivations behind crime, as well as providing a number of different definitions of crime, from the Open University.
17. Youth delinquency: This is an interesting course on young people and crime. This offering from Wikiversity provides a look at different factors that can influence youth delinquency, as well as a look at what can be done to reduce delinquency.
18. White Collar and Corporate Crime: The University of California Irvine provides an interesting class on the factors behind white collar crime. This is an important aspect of forensics, including forensic accounting, as corporate crime increases.
19. The problem with crime: Another provocative course from the Open University, this class looks at different themes related to crime, including the problem of identifying exactly what crime is.

Law

Having some knowledge of the law is important in forensic science. Understanding the rules and laws under which you will be expected to operate is vital. Here are some courses that can give you a basic understanding of some of the laws you are upholding and following.

20. Trials in History: MIT offers an interesting look at different trials through history, considers systems of evidence used in them and addresses other issues.
21. Ethics and the Law on the Electronic Frontier: An assessment, from MIT, of law and ethics as enforcement moves to the Internet. Especially helpful in terms of computer forensics.
22. iTunes U: Stanford offers a number of interesting podcasts and courses on different aspects of the law. Learn about privacy law, ethics and specific cases related to different trials and investigations.
23. Criminal Justice System: This course from Connexions looks at the criminal justice system, how it works, and considers its effectiveness. A useful primer in how things work.
24. Aims and Limits of the Criminal Law: The University of California Berkeley looks at what the law is meant to accomplish, as well as some of the limits inherent in criminal law.
25. Privacy rights and the law: You may want to investigate a crime, but it is important to understand privacy rights. This course from the Open University examines privacy rights and their place in our society.

1. Henry Lee: Born in China as the 11th of 13 children, Lee fled to Taiwan with his family at the end of the Chinese Civil War. He was a police captain in Taiwan by the age of 25. In 1972, Lee came to the United States to study Forensic Science. He also has a Ph.D. in biochemistry. Lee worked on the JonBenét Ramsey case, the O.J. Simpson Case and the Laci Peterson case. He also consulted on the murder of Deputy White House Counsel Vincent Foster, as well as worked on the D.C. sniper shootings. Lee was accused of accidentally destroying, or even hiding, evidence in the Phil Spector case. He is one of the most well forensic experts today.
2. Cyril Wecht: Originally, Wecht wanted to be a musician. He was even concertmaster at the University of Pittsburgh. However, he went on to get his M.D. Wecht served in the Air Force, and later became a forensic pathologist. He eventually became coroner of Allegheny County in Pennsylvania. He served as coroner from 1970 to 1980, and from 1996 to 2006. He has personally performed more than 14,000 autopsies. Wecht is famous as a consultant, especially on TV. He has consulted on the outcomes of the deaths of John F. Kennedy (he is famous for disputing the findings of the Warren Commission), Sharon Tate, issues relating to the Branch Davidian incident, Anna Nicole Smith, JonBenét Ramsey and Vincent Foster. Wecht also has a pathology private practice, in which he and associates provide consultations on cases. However, he was tried for fraud, but it was declared a mistrial.
3. Michael Baden: Baden’s high profile comes from the fact that he is seen everywhere, lending his insight as a medical doctor and forensic pathologist to a number of famous cases. He hosts the HBO show Autopsy, and also contributes on the Fox News Channel. He has written two non-fiction books that are quire popular. Baden served as the Chief Medical Examiner for New York City between 1978 and 1979. He has served as an expert witness or as a consulting pathologist on a number of famous forensic cases (some that require him to re-evaluate events of past history), including John F. Kennedy, Czar Nicholas II, O.J. Simpson, John Belushi, Phil Spector, Kathleen Savio and Lisa McPherson. Baden has a private practice as a pathology consultant.
4. Clea Koff: Forensics has spawned a number of different sub-fields, and one of those is forensic anthropology. Clea Koff is one of the premier forensic anthropologists in the world, studying deaths in cases where the remains of a victim may be in advance stages of decomposition. Koff worked for the United Nations for several years, and helped on missions in Bosnia, Rwanda, Serbia, Coatia and Kosovo. Koff received her degree in forensic anthropology, and has written an autobiography about her work. Koff founded The Missing Persons Identification Resource Center, and works to help people identify their loved ones if they can’t find them through official missing persons channels.
5. William Maples: This man was a noted forensic anthropologist working in the middle of the 20th century. He had a Ph.D., and authored a book (with Michael Broning), Dead Men Do Tell Tales: The Strange and Fascinating Cases of a Forensic Anthropoligist. He became well-known for consulting on cases of the deceased, by looking at their remains. He worked on the U.S. president Zachary Taylor, looks at the case of “The Elephant Man, John Merrick, Francisco Pizarra and the Ramanov family, of which Czar Nicholas II was the head. He worked at the Florida Museum of Natural History, and was known for helping to solve unsolved cases.
6. Joseph Bell: This man pioneered some of the techniques known today in forensic pathology. At the time (in the late 19th century and early 20th century), forensic pathology was rarely used as a way to help solve crimes. Bell taught his students about observation, and built upon knowledge from his great-grandfather, the forensic surgeon Benjamin Bell. Bell is considered to be an inspiration for Sherlock Holmes, since Arthur Conan Doyle met him in 1877 and was impressed by him. Bell taught at the University of Edinburgh in the medical school, and served as Queen Victoria’s personal surgeon whenever she was in Scotland. He is still studied today by forensic pathologists learning techniques of diagnosis and understanding behavior.
7. Edmond Locard: One of the pioneers in forensic science is Edmond Locard. He was well-known for the formulation of the basic tenet of forensic science: “Every contact leaves a trace.” Locard studied law and medicine at Lyons, and he also became the assistant to criminologist Alexandre Lacassagne. After leaving Lacassagne, Locard founded the first police laboratory, starting in the Lyons police department with two attic rooms and two assistants. Locard developed 12 matching points for fingerprint identification. He was known as the “Sherlock Holmes of France.” His work paved the way for forensic science to find a place in police work.
8. Sara Bisel: One of the pioneers of forensic anthropology, Sara Bisel studied a number of interesting cases. She has a degree in biochemistry, as well as a degree in classical area studies. She was most interested in uncovering information about events from the far past. She played a prominent role in the research associated with Herculaneum, the town destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. She was known for her professionalism, and taught at various schools. Her work, and her theories and processes, especially with regard to health and nutrition, is considered to have been a great help in advancing forensic anthropology, especially as it relates to understanding stomach contents and evaluating the health of a victim.
9. William Bass: Another pioneer in forensic anthropology, William Bass was renowned for his ability to help identify human remains. He founded the Forensic Anthropology Research Facility at the University of Tennessee. He was a professor there for many years. His facility is referred to as the “Body Farm“, a name popularized in a fictional book by Patricia Cornwell of the same name. Bass has written fictional stories as well, using the name Jefferson Bass, reflecting his collaboration with Jon Jefferson, who helped write a non-fiction book about the Body Farm. Students from all over come to study at the Body Farm, to learn about identification techniques.
10. Alec Jeffreys: While not exactly a forensic expert himself, Sir Alec Jeffreys pioneered many of the techniques used in forensic science today. This British scientist is most well-known for his work with DNA profiling and DNA fingerprinting. His work is used in crime labs all over the world. He teaches genetics at the University of Leicester, and is know to help detective work, immigration disputes and help prove paternity.

1. Official CSI site offers a look at CSI from the official source. You can watch past episodes, read episode recaps, see teasers from the upcoming season, chat while you watch and enjoy cast information and interviews.
2. CSI:The Experience provides a behind the scenes look at a special exhibit about CSI and what goes into the show. While the physical exhibit runs for a limited time, the Web site is chock full of images, cast information and a fun test that lets you analyze the evidence.
3. CSI: Fan Club provides insight into all three CSI shows (Las Vegas, Miami and New York). Image galleries, forums, and character profiles are available.
4. CSI: Fanatic provides great spoilers from upcoming episodes, as well as cast bios from all three shows. There is also a section on the CSI show in the news, and other forensics issues. There are also fun games and quizzes that you can take.
5. CSI Files offers episode guides, news and really cool interviews with cast members from all three shows.
6. CSI Wiki is a WetPaint site that allows you to contribute. There is CSI news, as well as images, videos, trivia and a page that connects you to still more CSI fan sites.
7. TV Loop’s CSI page is a fun place to go and play quizzes about the show. Additionally, you can join the discussion, read show recaps and get quotes from characters in the show. Read fan chains and interact with others who love CSI almost as much as you do.
8. CSI Wikia represents another fan Wiki containing videos, images and character bios from all three CSI shows. You can also get templates and get ideas for CSI-related projects.
9. Shades On Shades Off is a CSI fan site devoted to CSI Miami. There are bios for the cast members, including pretty cool images from other projects cast members have been involved with (i.e. David Caruso in NYPD Blue).
10. CSI Forensics is devoted to showing you around the world of CSI. Episode recaps from all three shows, as well as information on the series, CSI challenges (you can compare your case solve rate to others’), and information on cast and characters.
11. Home of the GSR Addict is devoted to a number of aspects of CSI. You can see episode updates, and see images and videos. You can also read about “geek love” between characters on CSI, as well as get some cool behind the scenes looks as well.
12. Crimelab.nl is actually a New Zealand CSI fan site. It is devoted to all three CSI shows, and also includes information on NCIS and Cold Case, as well as other forensic science shows. Quotes, character bios, merchandise and other cool features can be found.
13. Talk CSI provides a place to chat about the three shows, and enjoy the comraderie of like-minded individuals. This site includes announcements about the show, episode guides and other helpful information and tidbits.
14. Boxxet CSI page offers a great chance to buy merchandise, watch videos and view images. You can also see episode recaps and get previews and spoilers from upcoming episodes. Get new about the show — including information about press tours.
15. MySpace CSI Fan Club is a place for MySpace users to congregate and share information about the show. There are videos, as well as music and information on cast members. It includes a “Who I’d Like to Meet Feature” that is quite interesting.
16. CSI at TV.com has a great place to learn about the show and the cast members. You can watch full episodes, as well as see reviews of the show, see images and read about the cast and crew. There is also a blog and trivia related to CSI.
17. Watching CSI offers show news and interviews with CSI stars. News about all three CSI shows is available, along with images and some videos. Episode recaps and commentary are also available.
18. CSI at Wikipedia has a great bit of information on the show, its background and its episodes. Learn interesting tidbits about things like where the show’s theme song came from, and keep up with releases. There is even a section on CSI parodies.
19. CSI on Facebook is a good place to watch videos, see fan photos and comment on what you see. There are also individual Facebook pages for each of the three shows, with CSI Miami page having the most fans.
20. CSI at IMDB provides detailed cast bios, along with episode lists from all three shows. You can watch videos and full episodes, as well as view images. Plot synopses are avvailable as well.
21. CSI: NY Fan Wiki is devoted to the CSI: NY installment of the show. The wiki allows fans to contribute. Episode details and images are available. Additionally, there is a section on relationships between characters. Vote for which characters you want to see get together. There are other polls and activities as well.
22. CSI Fan Club at FanPop offers video, photos, bios and more. Additionally, there is a question forum where people can get their questions about the show answered.
23. William Peterson Appreciation Page devotes itself to the actor who plays “Grissom” on CSI. Even though he left the show, many are still enthralled with him, and there are rumors that he will be back. These rumors are untrue right now, but if you want your “Grisson” fix you can get it with pictures and video, as well as information on projects he is involved with beyond CSI.
24. CSI Fanfic is for those who are interested in fan fiction. Want to create art or additional stories using characters from CSI? Want to read what others are doing with CSI characters? This is the place for you!
25. GRSFanGirl writes fan fiction, as well as provides videos and photos from the show.